It’s green chile season -- a magical time of year in this part of Colorado, and one that (if you have any loyalty to our home state whatsoever), you definitely don’t need to go all the way to New Mexico to celebrate.

Thousands of people will come to Pueblo for the 25th annual Chile and Frijoles Festival, a three-day event that features everything from live music to a jalapeno eating contest to a Chihuahua parade (something that’s worth a two-hour drive from Denver alone, IMO).

Pueblo is more than the state fair, and here’s an itinerary that will prove why it’s worth the adventure.

Obviously, this is tongue-in-cheek, but with that being said, Pueblo does have a pretty good place to kayak/participate in other water sports just 15 minutes away from downtown (there aren't coral reefs, though).

Lake Pueblo State Park has 60 miles of shoreline, and is known as a "fishing hot spot". It also has some of the highest-rated hiking and mountain biking trails in the region, which come with stunning views of the reservoir.

Take a drive east of town on the US 50 business loop. This basically connects Pueblo and Avondale, and is home to numerous local farms with stands that sell fresh (and roasted, if you're into that!) green chiles.

Even if you aren't a fan of green chile, the local farms still have something to enjoy, from fresh watermelon to homemade jam. One place sold saltwater taffy which was honestly kind of embarrassing to buy in a place known for selling healthy stuff like vegetables, but hey, I'm a big believer in you do you, you know?